Block-hook.



W. M. HARRIS, JR.

BLOGK HOOK.

APPLICATION IILED OUT. 12, 1912.

1,071 ,048. Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

attorney WILLIAM M. HARRIS, JR., OF NORTH SCITUATE, RHODE ISLAND.

'IBLOGK-I-IOOK.

Application filed October 12, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \V ILLIAM M. Harms, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Scituate, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Block-Hooks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in block hooks and more particularly to hooks of this character which are adapted for use in connection with the davits of ships and like vessels for lowering boats therefrom into the water and which serves to permit the boat to be readily cut loose upon the surface of the water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hook of the above character adapted to be held to a block and tackle of the clavits of ships or other like vessels and which may be readily connected to suitable means provided at the thwarts of a life boat or other boats whereby the same may be quickly released to safely lower the boat into the water, thus overcoming the danger of capsizing especially during rough and high seas as incident to such devices ordinarily in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hook of the above character which will possess advantages in points of efficiency and durability, is inexpensive to manufacture and at the same time is simple in construction and operation.

'With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described pointed out in the claim and shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a block hook constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view and Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line t-l of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, 1 indicates the body of the hook which is provided at one end with a suitable ring 2 and is bifurcated at its other end to form two spaced ears 3 between which is pivotally mounted, by means of the pin 4, a hook member 5. An arm 6 is provided having one end bifurcated to form the spaced ears 7 which are disposed upon opposite sides of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26,1913.

Serial No. 725,543.

the body 1 and pivotally secured thereto adjacent the lower end. The body 1 is provided with a shoulder 8 upon which the inner end of the arm 6 is adapted to rest to limit the downward movement thereof.

The arm 6 is provided at its under side thereof with a longitudinal groove 9 at each end of which is arranged the perforated lugs 10. Slidably mounted within the lugs is a pin 11 having a tapering head 12 formed upon one end thereof and adapted to engage with the recess 13 formed in the outer end of the hook 5, the extreme end of said hook being disposed within the longitudinal opening 14: formed in the arm 6. Mounted upon the pin 11 and disposed between one of the lugs and the cross pin 15 is a coil spring 16 which is adapted to normally hold the head 16 into engagement with the recess 13.

The outer end of the arm 6 is provided with a suitable handle member 17 at the inner end of which is pivotally secured a second handle member 18 having a perforated ear 19 formed integral adjacent the pivoted end thereof, said ear being suitably connected to the inner end of the pin 11 by means of the cord 20 which is slidably mounted within the guide member 21. From the above it will be seen that when the handle member 18 is pressed inwardly toward the members 17, the head 12 will be removed from the recess 13 and allow the book 5 to drop from its normal position. Thus it will be seen that after a life boat or other boat has been lowered upon the water, the same may be quickly released by pressing upon the handle member 18.

In the practical operation of my device, the ring 2 is suspended by means of a block and tackle from the davits of a ship, while the hook member 5 is secured to the life boat or other small craft by means of a rope or cable. The boat is lowered into the water and after the same strikes the surface of the water, the occupant of the boat actuates the handle member 18 which removes the head of the pin 11 from the recess 13 in the end of the hook, whereby any small amount of power applied to the hook member 5 will remove the same from the longitudinal opening in the arm 6 so that the hook may be quickly released from the life boat or other craft which has been lowered into the water.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that I have provided a block hook which is adapted for use in connection with the davits of ships and like vessels for lowering the boats therefrom into the water and which serves to permit a boat to be quickly cut loose upon the surface of the water. It will also be apparent that the device is extremely simple in its opera tion and can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be obvious that various changes in the details of construction and in the proportions may be resorted to for successfully carrying my invention into practice without sacrificing any of the novel features or departing from the scope of the appended claim.

l'Vhat I claim is In a device of the character described, the combination of a body member having a ring formed at one end thereof and having its other end bifurcated to form spaced ears, a hook having one end pivotally secured between said ears and provided with a recess at its other end, an arm pivotally secured to the body with a longitudinal opening to receive the recessed end of the hook when the same is in a normally closed position, a shoulder formed on the body and adapted to be engaged by the arm to limit the downward swinging movement thereof, said arm being provided upon one side thereof with a longitudinal groove having perforated lugs at each end, thereof, a pin slidably mounted in said lugs, a cross pin arranged in the first pin, a pointed head formed at one end of the pin and adapted to engage the recess when the end of the hook is dis posed. within the opening in the arm, a coil spring mounted upon the first pin and disposed between one of the lugs and the cross pin. to normally hold said head into engage ment with the recess and a pivoted handle member mounted upon the arm and connected with the pin whereby the swinging movement of the same will. release the head from the recess.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

'WILLIAM M. HARRIS, JR.

Witnesses:

JENNIE I. SPENCER, Les/rm W. SPENCER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

